Thunderstorms Pass Over Maui, Flood Advisory Issued

The National Weather Service has EXTENDED the FLASH FLOOD WATCH for ALL HAWAIIAN ISLANDS, now in effect through Wednesday afternoon.

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding.

A strong trough in the upper atmosphere will continue to bring a chance of very heavy rain and thunderstorms. Extreme rainfall rates with these storms will bring a high potential for flash flooding.

The National Weather Service has also issued a Special Marine Warning for the Kaiwi Channel and Maui County Leeward Waters until 715 AM. At 620 AM, a strong thunderstorm capable of producing waterspouts was located 25 nautical miles south of Hanauma Bay. The strong thunderstorm was moving southeast slowly.

Waterspouts can easily overturn boats and create locally hazardous seas. Small craft could be damaged in briefly higher winds and suddenly higher waves.

The strong thunderstorm will remain over mainly open waters.

Update:

ADVERTISEMENT

The National Weather Service has EXTENDED the FLOOD ADVISORY for MAUI ISLAND now in effect until midnight.

A Flood Advisory means that nuisance flooding is occurring or imminent. A Flood Advisory may be upgraded to a Flash Flood Warning if flooding worsens and poses a threat to life and property.

This advisory may need to be extended if heavy rain persists.

At 835 PM HST, radar indicated that rainfall had eased over west Maui, with areas of moderate to heavy rain continuing to soak parts of south and east Maui, associated with a strong thunderstorm passing just south of the island. Rainfall rates in the heaviest showers will be one to two inches per hour, which will significantly reduce visibility. Locations in the advisory include but are not limited to, Wailea, Makena, Kula, Kaupo, Kipahulu, Hamoa and Hana.

Update:

The National Weather Service has ISSUED a FLOOD ADVISORY for MAUI and MOLOKAI in effect until Tonight at 9:00PM.

A Flood Advisory means that nuisance flooding is occurring or imminent. A Flood Advisory may be upgraded to a Flash Flood Warning if flooding worsens and poses a threat to life and property.

This advisory may need to be extended if heavy rain persists.

EFFECTS: At 600 PM, radar indicated a large area of moderate to heavy rain moving over Maui from the west, with rainfall rates between one and two inches per hour in the heaviest showers.

This advisory is for all of the island of Maui, with heavy showers initially soaking leeward areas before spreading to windward areas. Impacts include possible road closures in south Maui, especially near Kihei.

There’s also a Flood advisory for the island of Molokai in Maui County until 615 PM HST.

At 315 PM HST, radar indicated heavy rain moving over Molokai with rain rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour. Another area of heavy rain will also reach the island from the west. Low lying spots along Highway 450 will be especially vulnerable to ponding as the rainfall moves across the island.Locations in the advisory include but are not limited to Hoolehua, Maunaloa, Kualapuu, Kalaupapa National Park, Ualapue, Halawa Valley, Kepuhi, Kaunakakai, Pukoo, Kamalo and Kawela.

Previous Post:

The National Weather Service has ISSUED a SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT for THUNDERSTORMS affecting the ISLAND OF MAUI in effect until 2:30 p.m. today, Monday, Feb. 5, 2018.

At 1:41 pm, a strong thunderstorm was located near Kīhei, or 9 miles southeast of Kahului, moving east at 20 mph. Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and nickel size hail are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include Kīhei, Wailea, ʻUlupalakua, Kula, Pukalani, Makawao, Kēōkea, Mākena, Māʻalaea, Kīpahulu and Haleakalā National Park.

There was also reports of pea sized hail in the Kēōkea area of Maui reported at around 1:52 p.m.

The National Weather Service has ISSUED a FLOOD ADVISORY for MAUI ISLAND in effect until 4:30 p.m. today.

A Flood Advisory means that nuisance flooding is occurring or imminent. A Flood Advisory may be upgraded to a Flash Flood Warning if flooding worsens and poses a threat to life and property.

This advisory may need to be extended if heavy rain persists.

The FLASH FLOOD WATCH for MAUI COUNTY remains in effect through this afternoon.

At 1:27 p.m., radar indicated heavy rain moving over the Kīhei area of Maui. Rain rates as high as 3 to 4 inches per hour have been detected. Additional areas of heavy rainfall will be moving over portions of leeward Maui from Kīhei to Kāʻanapali from the southwest within the next couple of hours. Locations in the advisory include but are not limited to Kahului, Honokōhau, Kahakuloa, Hāliʻimaile, Pāʻia, Makawao, Wailuku, Kēōkea, Olowalu, Wailea, Waiheʻe and Kāʻanapali.